GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Grand Rapids' major health care providers are joining forces with two Michigan universities to form a new consortium that will enhance the health of the Grand Rapids community through the integration of clinical research, medical education and health professions education.
The consortium, composed of St. Mary's Mercy Medical Center, Spectrum Health, Michigan State University and Grand Valley State University, will be known as the Grand Rapids Medical Education and Research Center for Health Professions.
This consortium will benefit both doctor and patient, said James R. Springer, who will serve as president and CEO. In addition to reaping the benefits of well-trained health care professionals, west Michigan patients will now be able to take part in research programs that will give them access to new drug therapy and other cutting-edge methods of health care.
For physicians and other health care providers, it will give them easier access to quality medical education, as well as new MSU programs such as epidemiology training, computer training and faculty development.
"At the current time, nurses, physician assistants, physical therapists, medical students and residents are all trained separately with minimal coordination of teaching efforts," Springer said. "In the future, we will all be working together as one medical team. It only makes sense that we train our health care professionals in the same way."
In addition to enhancing and expanding medical education opportunities, the Grand Rapids Medical Education and Research Center for Health Professions will offer new research opportunities for physicians, researchers and students in west Michigan.
"Health care is improved through clinical research programs - programs that are relevant to people," Springer said. "For example, people will have the opportunity to participate in clinical drug trials long before some of those products will be available on the open market. The focus for the new center will be examining research issues that will have relevance and importance to people in west Michigan."
"I think the center provides a wonderful and unique opportunity for St. Mary's and Spectrum Health to work in cooperation for the good of the community," said David Ameen, president and CEO of St. Mary's Mercy Medical Center. "Through this new educational structure, we will be able to provide patients with more opportunities to receive new treatments without having to leave the community."
Grand Rapids area hospitals have a long history of providing quality medical education for medical school graduates. In addition, the Grand Rapids hospitals support the training of MSU College of Human Medicine students as they complete their medical degrees.
"Whether it's continuing medical education or graduate and undergraduate education, all partners bring strengths to the table," Springer said. "While we have had a long history of providing graduate medical education and medical student education, the addition of Grand Valley's health profession programs bring an added dimension to the mix."
"This announcement shows a further expansion of the role of Grand Valley's health professions programs and the importance that has been placed on them by the local medical community," said Arend D. Lubbers, GVSU president.
Each hospital currently manages its own graduate medical education program, which are developed for medical school graduates who are pursuing specialty training. In addition, local hospitals support continuing medical education, which allows doctors to keep their licenses active. The new center will create a single sponsor for those medical education programs.
While there are currently nearly 900 clinical faculty in the Grand Rapids area donating their time and services to the teaching of medical students and residents, the new Center will bring additional resources from MSU and Grand Valley to this area. Negotiations are currently under way to bring two nationally-respected researchers in the field of hypertension to the Grand Rapids community. Other research positions will be developed in the months ahead.
"We're happy to see this cooperation take place," said William Gonzalez, president and CEO of Spectrum Health. "It's good for our hospitals and it's good for our community. This coordination will make our educational programs more efficient and there should be significant savings in administrative costs."
The new consortium also will help cut costs by eliminating duplication of efforts. Faculty, staff, facilities, and even computers and library services will all be shared. In addition, the consortium hopes to become competitive in applying for research grants, awards and clinical trial contracts.
The Medical Education and Research Center will be housed in the current Cook Research Institute. The Cook Institute will remain as the research division of the Medical Education and Research Center.
In addition to the four founding organizations, it is anticipated that other hospitals, educational organizations and health care organizations will participate in the consortium. Calvin College, Mary Free Bed Hospital, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, Ferris State University and Metropolitan Hospital have all shown interest.
MSU has a long history of cooperating and participating with area hospitals for medical education. For over 25 years the Grand Rapids Area Medical Education Consortium (GRAMEC) has served as the MSU College of Human Medicine's Grand Rapids Campus, coordinating medical student education programs for approximately 60 students at a time.